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St Pauls Church, Palmer MAPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0
C−
Schools in Palmer Town · Palmer School District

Palmer Town’s public schools score below 83% of Massachusetts districts on tests and graduation

27% of students in Palmer Town’s public schools are proficient in reading, below the Massachusetts average (44%). The grade covers the public school district serving Palmer Town, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Massachusetts, not nationally.

#253of 283 Massachusetts townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Massachusetts state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
27%
▼ 17 pts vs MA 44%
2021–22
Math proficiency
26%
▼ 15 pts vs MA 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 5–9 pts vs MA 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$24.5K
▼ 8% vs MA $26.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.0
MA 11.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
1,093 students on the public path
In brief

Palmer Town’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 27% of tested students were proficient in reading and 26% in math, against 44% and 41% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts (the state reports Palmer Town’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $24,494 per student, against $26,530 across Massachusetts (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Palmer High. Enrollment is down 8% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Palmer Town’s grade

D Test scoresD Graduation

C−: better than 17% of Massachusetts school districts, #253 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Both inputs trail the Massachusetts average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Massachusetts school districts we grade (394)Better than 17%
Lower resultsHigher results
Massachusetts towns with similar household incomes (170)Better than 20%
DCA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 659 test results and a graduating class of 76 could put Palmer Town anywhere from D to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Palmer Town’s students in the tested grades sat them (656 in math, 662 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Palmer Town, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6Old Mill PondPalmer School DistrictC
7–12Palmer HighPalmer School DistrictC

Palmer Town’s public schools are run by Palmer School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Palmer School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 1,093 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 11.0 per teacher (MA 11.9)
$24,494MA $26,530 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading27%
State average 43.7% · 662 students tested
Math26%
State average 40.7% · 656 students tested

Palmer Town vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Massachusetts towns that share Palmer Town’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Palmer TownC−Palmer
MonsonC−Monson
BelchertownB−Belchertown
BrimfieldBBrimfield PK–6 · Tantasqua 7–12
WarrenC+Quaboag Regional
WareDWare

Every school in Palmer Town

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Massachusetts’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Palmer Townby address
Old Mill Pond
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Palmer
C
677 students13:1Rate it →
Palmer High
High · Grades 7–12 · Palmer
C
416 students9:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Palmer Townrun by other districts or the state
Pathfinder Vocational Technical
High · Grades 9–12 · Palmer
C
Career and Technical
660 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Palmer Town’s schools

Are Palmer Town’s schools good?

On Massachusetts’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Palmer Town children attend score below 83% of Massachusetts’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #253 of 283 Massachusetts towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 20%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Palmer Town in?

Palmer School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,093 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

What is Palmer Town’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in Palmer School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Massachusetts.

How much does Palmer Town spend per student?

$24,494 in Palmer School District (FY2024), against $26,530 across Massachusetts. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Palmer Town families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Palmer Town → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Massachusetts. Stars are from neighbors.